793.94/12314a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan ( Grew )
38. An Associated Press report from Tokyo under date February 2 states that the Minister for Foreign Affairs,99 in reply to a question, made a statement in the Diet on February 2 as follows: “There is no Chinese Central Government recognized by Japan. A state of war exists between the two countries”. A further press report from Tokyo under date February 3 states that Prince Konoye, in reply to a question in the Diet, “indicated that Japan did not intend to declare war on China formally at present, but said it was reasonable to expect that under conditions which might arise in the future, a declaration might be issued”.
The Department has found most helpful your telegrams 63, February 1, 1 p.m., and your unnumbered telegram January 31, 5 p.m., via Shanghai,1 as well as previous telegrams in regard to developments relating to a possible declaration of war by Japan, and the Department desires that you continue to keep it currently informed of any significant developments, adding such comments of appraisal and interpretation as may be helpful.
- Koki Hirota.↩
- See telegram No. 177, February 1, 11 a.m., Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. i, p. 446.↩